*Backs ” No negotiation with, or payment of ransom to kidnappers”
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, Afenifere yesterday, declared that President Bola Tinubu has the capability to summon the political will to tackle the menace of insecurity across Nigeria.
Afenifere in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, pointed out that the capability of President Tinubu includes how respective communities can be made to be more involved in the security of their areas.
According to Afenifere, the, ” No negotiation with, or payment of ransom to kidnappers’ stand of President Bola Tinubu should be lauded, adding that it is strongly in support of the stand.
The organization emphasized that if, ” ransom is paid or bandits are treated with kid gloves in form of pardon etc, they are being encouraged to continue in their evil ways.
” In this respect, Afenifere strongly supports Mr. President on his, ‘No negotiation with or payment of ransom to kidnappers’ stand. There should be no sacred cow as the only person who could not be touched by the arms of the law is the innocent”, it said.
Afenifere added, ” If ransom is paid or bandits are treated with kid gloves in form of pardon etc, they are being encouraged to continue in their evil ways.
” This is why the government needs to summon necessary political will to ensure that bandits and their accomplices are not only reined in, they should be severely dealt with. Such should have no room for kid glove treatment of bandits and kidnappers.”
It noted that the country’s judicial system needs to be rejigged to ensure that cases bordering on banditry including kidnapping are expeditiously dealt with, adding may be “a special tribunal be created in each state for this purpose as a matter of urgency to meet the expediency of the moment”.
It then congratulated President Tinubu, Elders in the North, security agencies including the military as well as Kaduna and Zamfara State Governors for the safe retrieval of Kuriga and Sokoto kidnapped students.
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